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W. Eugene Smith
American photographer
Quick Facts
- In full:
- William Eugene Smith
- Byname:
- Gene Smith
W. Eugene Smith (born December 20, 1918, Wichita, Kansas, U.S.—died October 15, 1978, Tucson, Arizona) was an American photojournalist noted for his compelling photo-essays, which were characterized by a strong sense of empathy and social conscience. At age 14 Smith began to use photography to aid his aeronautical studies, and within a year he had become a photographer for two local newspapers. He left college after one year to go to New York City. In 1942 Smith became a war correspondent for Life magazine and covered many of the most important battles of the Pacific, including Tarawa, Saipan, Guam, and ...(100 of 501 words)